Hydraulic tongs



I. X. CALHOUN Mrch 13, 19.51

HYDRAULIC TONGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Jan. 14, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

WH y March 13, 1951 1.x. CALHOUN HYDRAULIC ToNGs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 YUl`1l'I`EY STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,544,639 i HYDRAULIC Tonos Ingram xroaumun," oklahoma city, okla. Application January 14, 1946', Serial No. 641,147

i (ci. 25a-35) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pipe handling equipment, especiallyl in drilling wells and it has particular reference to apparatus for and method of breaking drill pipe tool joints.

The principal object of the invention is to reduce to a considerable extent the time ordinarily consumed in pulling and running drill 'pipe 'by facilitating the breaking and tightening 'of tool joints, through the less hazardous and labor saving medium of hydraulic power. Moreover, the invention anticipates the use of hydraulic motors operating cylinders eiective to apply controlled torque in such manner as to break the most obstinate joints with less likelihood of' mechanical breakage than customary with tools having no provision for predetermining the degreev of applied pressures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic tong having means for clamping a portion of a tool joint under hydraulic pressure, combined with complementary means for applying torque to the companion portion of the tool joint under hydraulic pressure to make or break the joint within safe torque limits, as indicated by pressure exhibiting means calibrated in hydraulic pressure or foot pounds of torque.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated tong whose controls are so arranged that they may be manipulated by an operator at a safe distance from the point of operation at the center of the derrick oor, thus lessening danger from moving blocks and the like. f

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment, to becomemanifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hydraulic tong embodying the invention, shown clamped to a tool joint.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 2--2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the upper jaws per se of the tong, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lower jaws per se of the tong, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternate or modied form of tong showing the same in clamped position on a tool joint.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein numeral I denotes a reversible hydraulic motor whose shaft 2 carries a ypinion 3, adapted to drive a gear 4 which latter, in turn, rotates a sprocket 5, mounted on the shaft of the gear. A sprocket chain 6 is driven by the sprocket 5 and surrounds sprockets I to rotate fluted rollers 8 which latter engage a tool joint 4l for threading in or out. Opposing the tinted rollers 8 are plain faced rollers 9 which are mounted pivotally between arms Il) and are adapted to urge the tool joint 41 against the fluted faces of rollers 6 through the medium of piston rods I l, actuated by hydraulic cylinders I2, the latter being pivotally attached to the main frame 46 of the tong by pins I3. Hydraulic operating fluid is conveyed to cylinders I2 froma valve I 4 through lines 30 and 3|. An operating handle I9 is provided for controlling the valve I4.

A cylinder 38 is attached to the frame 46 of the tong by means of a. pin 38 at right angles to the major axis of the cylinder and through the medium of its piston, a force is exerted on rod 5'5fand`c1evis 54 to actuate arms 6I and 62 (Fig. 4) through pin 56, toggle links 5l and 58, which latter are connected to said arms 6I and 62 by pins 59` and 66. In this manner, arms 6I and 62 are fulcruined on pins 63 and the open position of the jaws and linkage is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.

A spring loaded accumulator 95, as shown in Figure 1 is connected through line S6 to a line 43, which latter in turn is connected to and serves to maintain pressure in cylinder 38 upon actuating a handle 2`I of a valvel I6 to neutral, non-bypass position subsequent to the closing of the lower jaws of the tong.

On each side of the frame 46, hydraulic cylinders 34 and 35 are mounted thereto by means of pins' 36 and 31. Pistonsl in these cylinders exert a force on rods 32 and 33 respectively, to actuate upper jaws 52 and 53 of the tong, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. Clevises i8v and 49 connect rods 32 and 33 totheir respectivejaws 52 and 53 by means of pins50 and 5I. The jaws 52 and 53 are designed to clamp the upper section of atool joint 4l' through the medium of a oating yoke 65 whose pipe engaging portion is provided with case hardened teeth 1.2, as may be observed in Figure 3.

In Figure 3, the jaws 52 and 53 are shown as being latched together by an automatically actuated latch 66 which is operated by a piston 68, supplied by hydraulicl fluid through a flexible line 69, coupling 1I] and line Il to source. A

spring 61 in the piston cylinder resists fluid pres- 'sure to disengage latch 66 when piston 68 is re lieved ofl pressure.

The valve I4, previously referred to controls the operation of the clamping jaws 9 through cylinders I2 and exible lines 30 and 3 I. A valve I5, operated by a handle 20, controls the fluid supply to the motor i through exible lines 4B and 4I. The lower cylinder 38, described in the foregoing as operating the lower clamping jaws 6I and 62, is controlled by a valve IG having an operating handle 2l. Valve i1 controls the operation of torque cylinder 35 through flexible lines 26 and'21`and valve actuating handle 22, and torque cylinder 34 is controlled by means of valve I8 through fiexible lines 28 and 29. i8 is provided with an operating handle 23.

Hydraulic iiuid under pressure from a pressure generator (not shown) is supplied to the manifold 25 of valves I4, I5, (6 I1 and I8 through a flexible line which is connected to said manifold by means of a coupling 44. Fluid pressure in the manifold 25 is preferably indicated on the dial of gauge 82 in pounds per square inch, torque in foot pounds or both.. The gauge may also be equipped with a red danger signal to reveal excessive torque pressures. A

And adjustable relief valve 18 controls hydraulic pressure in maniilold line 25, returning excess fluid to the pressure generator through Yexible line 11. Cut-off valve 19 is providedso that maximum generator pressure may be applied to the jaws for breaking unusually tight joints. 'I'he valves 18 and 19 are connected to the valve manifold line 25 by means of a nipple 80. A fluid return line 24 to the pressure generator is connected to each of the valves I4, I5, I6 I1 and I8 and spent fluid entering this line is delivered to line 15, connected to line 24 by a coupling 45.

The frame 4B of the tong is supported in the derrick and counter-balanced by a line attached to a loop 13 aiiixed to the frame at the approximate` gravity center thereof and a handle 14 is secured to the rear of the frame above and rearwardly of the control valve assembly, by which to move the apparatus in relation to the work to permit hoisting and lowering of the drill pipe. i

In operation, the tong is advanced upon the work with the rotary jaws 9, torque jaws 52 and 53 and lower clamping jaws 6I and 52 expanded. Valve I4 is opened to supply fluid under pressure Vto'cylinders I2 through lines 38 and 3I thus displacing the .pistons therein to-,actuate rods Il and arms I8. contracting the rotary jaws on the work and conning the same between the latter jaws and iluted rotary jaws 8. Valve I6 is opened to allow fluid to enterl cylinder 38 through line 42 and 43 to actuate piston rod 55, thereby contracting the lower clamping jaws 62 onto the work through the medium of links 51 and 58 It has been stated previously that it is the 'intent of the invention to provide in a single -Now, the torque jaws 52 and 53 are actuated vby alternate reciprocation of rods 32 and 33 to The valve produce a ratchet eifect on the work, the dlrection of applied force being determined by valves I1 and I8 which are alternately opened and closed to supply :duid alternately to torque cylinders 34 and 35 which actuate rods 32 and 33 to produce a ratchet effect on the work. When a joint is encountered which cannot be broken by the rotary jaws 8 and 9, the torque jaws 52 and 53 are set into operation, as described, which are capable of breaking the most obstinate joint.

Following the operation of breaking a joint, valve I5 is opened to admit fluid from the pressure generator, through manifold 25 to the fluid -motor l, setting into operation the chain 6 through gears 3 and 4, which action imparts rotation to rotary uted jaws 8, whose engagement with the work 41 causes the latter to rotate to disconnect the upper from the lower clamped section of the work.

It is of course obvious that while the foregoing explanation of the performance of the jaws deals with the breaking of a joint of pipe, the process of setting up joints in running in drill stem is performed in substantially the same manner except the direction of rotation of motor l and reciprocation of torque jaws 52 and 53 are l reversed.

It is to be understood that when the lower clamping jaws 6I and B2 are to be collapsed on the work, pressure in line 1 I overcomes the resistance ofrgspring 61, allowing piston 68 to be displaced to actuate latch 66, but upon relieving uid pressure-in line 1I, the spring 61 functions to open the latch B6 allowing the jaws 6I and B2 to be expanded to release the work.

In Figure 5 is shown a modified form of clamping jaw corresponding to the lower clamping jaws illustrated per se in Figure 3. In this 'construction, cylinders 83 are pivotally connected at a to a oating yoke 85 and clamping jaws 84 are pivoted at b also to this yoke. A spring loaded accumulator 44 is provided to maintain pressure on jaws 84 after the control valve (not shown) is returned to neutral or non-by-pass position subsequent to its opening operation admitting pressure to the accumulator 94 through line 86 and to the lower chambers of cylinders 83 through lines 81. The upper chambers of cylinders 83 are exhausted through flexible lines 89 to line 83, thence to the valve (not shown), the valve being comparable tofvalve I6, earlier described as the control means for the lower clamping jaws 6I and 62.

Piston rods 91 are reciprocated by pistons in cylinders 83 to urge the clamping jaws 84 against the tool joint 41 to thrust and hold the same against the teeth 12 of the yoke 85. Torque to tighten or loosen the joint is then applied by alternate reciprocation of rods 32 and 33 to the yoke 85 by alternate charging of cylinders 34 and k35 with uid pressure.

Cylinders 34 and 35V are cross connected by lines 93 and 9|, causing torque exerted on yoke 85 to be additive after the tool joint is tightened or loosened as the case may be, pressure is released from line 86, discharging accumulator 94 and removing pressure from the head end of modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is the pipe, a fluid pressure distributing manifold on the opposite end of said frame, a pair of cylinders having connection with said manifold, one being disposed on each side of said frame, pistons in said cylinders, a substantially U-shaped floating yoke in said frame at its pipe receiving end adapted to embrace the pipe above a joint and to which said pistons are each connected, pipe engaging torque jaws carried by said yoke, valves controlling the circulating of fluid in said cylinders in a manner to effect alternate reciprocation of said pistons to oscillate said yoke, means for holding the torque jaws against the pipe in said yoke, a pair of pipe holding jaws in said frame for engaging and holding the pipe below said joint, a common cylinder and piston for actuating said pipe holding jaws simultaneously and valve means for controlling circulation of fluid from said manifold through said latter cylinder.

2. Apparatus for making and breaking threaded pipe sections including a frame suspended for movement towards and away from a string of pipe, a substantially U-shaped floating yoke mounted in one end of said frame and adapted to receive the pipe above a joint, pipe engaging slips in said yoke, a cylinder mounted on each side of said frame, a piston in each of said cylinders, each of said pistons having a rod connected to one side of said yoke, a fluid pressure manifold valve means for circulating iiuicl` alternately through said cylinders from said manifold to oscillate said yoke, a pair of torque jaws pivoted to said yoke and actuated by said piston rods for holding pipe in said yoke, a pair of pipe holding jaws pivoted in said frame lbelow said yoke for engaging and holding the pipe below said joint during operation of said yoke and hydraulic means for effecting simultaneous operation of said pipe holding jaws.

INGRAM X. CALHOUN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,995 Moody Apr. 15, 1919 1,386,220 Anderson Aug. 2, 1921 1,478,020 Butler Dec. 18, 1923 1,508,704 Leonard Sept. 16, 1924 1,615,695 Grattan Jan. 25, 1927 1,925,970 Pennington Sept. 5, 1933 2,317,306 Smith et a1 Apr. 20, 1943 2,429,424 Montgomery et al. Oct. 21, 1947 2,450,934 Calhoun Oct. 12, 1948 2,453,369 Grable et a1. Nov. 9, 1948 

